Fruit vending apparatus



- Feb. 23, 1932. D. c. DAVIS FRUIT VENDING APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 23, 1932. D. c. DAVIS FRUI T VENDING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed June 25, 1928 //VV 5M 6? ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 23, 1932. D, c DAWS 1 1,846,316

FRUIT VENDING APPAR A'fiUS Fil ed June 25, 192% 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 23, 1932.

p. c. DAVIS FRUIT VENDING APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheqt 4 65 Z6 a; 7 70 J 5 A 7 TOF/VEKS: 7

Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES DONALD C. DAVIS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK FRUIT VENDING APPARATUS Application filed June 25,

This invention relates to improvements in vending apparatus, and particularly to such apparatus which have a plurality of separate dispensing compartments or chambers each containing an article or product, and which compartments are each provided with individual coin controlled closure means actuated by the insertion of a coin to give access to the interiors of the compartments.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved vending apparatus of the kind described and which is of simple and strong construction, and is compactly arranged so as to provide relatively large capacity.

Other objects are to provide a vending apparatus having the dispensing compartments arranged in groups each of which groups forms a tier, and to construct said tiers so that a plurality of tiers can be superposed and held one on another to provide a vending device of any desired capacity; also to construct a vending apparatus in which said tiers are composed of a number of individual. gdispensing or vending compartments alternating with a corresponding number of coincontrolled mechanisms arranged in an annular series about a common center; also to provide novel means for clamping or holding a plurality of said tiers in superposed relation in a manner to permit their effective operation while preventing separation of or access to the interior of the apparatus; also to provide novel means for rotatably supporting one or several superimposed tiers so that a purchaser may have access to any desired compartment and its coin-controlled mechanism from any position; and also to provide a vending or dispensing compartment for apparatus of this sort having a rotatable shell or closure member of novel form cooperating with a fixed part to enclose an article; also to provide improved pivotal mountings for said shells.

Further objects of the invention are to provide novel means for mounting the shells whereby any one or more of said shells can be disconnected or replaced without disturbing the other parts of the apparatus; also to pro- 1928. Serial No. 288,073.

vide novel stop or holding means and releasing means for maintaining said shells in closed position and for permitting their rotation to open position respectively; also to construct the various parts of the apparatus in a manner to simplify and facilitate the assembly of the apparatus; and also to improve vending apparatus in the other respects hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved vending apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, partly broken away. a i

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section ghereof on an enlarged scale, on line 3-3,

Fig. 4L is a fragmentary enlarged vertical detail section of the pivotal mounting for two vertically adjacent rotatable shells or compartment closure members of the apparatus.

Fig. 5 is another enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the apparatus on line 55, Fig. 2. j i

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 6-6 Fig. 8, showing one of the coin chutes and the means for assembling the same in relation to the horizontal partitions of the apparatus.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the detachable connection between the vertical outside filler members or coin mechanism cover plates and the top horizontal partition plate.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the apparatus on lines 8-8, Figs. 3 and 5.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of the apparatus with a coin mechanism cover plate removed.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of one of the horizontal partition plates removed fromthe apparatus.

My improved vending apparatus in the embodiment illustrated, comprises generally, a stationary base 10, a plurality of individual, rotatable shells or hollow closure members 11., each of which is supported in operative relation to an outwardly facing recess or pocket 12, forms therewith a compartment for an article, and normally acts as a closure for said of an embodiment compartment. The compartments 12 and their corresponding shells or closure members 11 are arranged preferably in horizontal groups or tiers 13 which are disposed one upon another. In the arrangement shown, two tiers 13 are provided, but one tier only, or more than two can be employed as found desirable.

The topmost tier is surmounted and protected by a dome-like cap or top member 14. The entire series of tiers 13, together with the top 14 are preferably arranged to rotate as a unit on and relatively to the base 10, so that this unit can be turned to permit a purchaser to select a desired article.

The adjacent tiers are separated, and the top and bottom portions ofthe upper and lower tiers 13 are respectively completed by horizontal separating walls or partition plates 16, which preferably are of polygonal form. The number of angles 17 at the periphery of each plate corresponds to the number or series of compartments in each tier 13. The plates 16 are provided with vertically alined holes 18 for the reception of the pivotal mountings 19, of the rotatable shells 11.

The compartments 12 are formed by vertically disposed walls or plates 20, each of which extends between and is secure to or engages two of the horizontal partitions 16. The walls 20are arrangedin the angles 17 and are preferably curved with their concavities facing outwardly.

Thus each compartment 12 is completed by the angular portions 17 of two plates 16 at the upper and lower ends of and extending within or between the two upright edges 21 of each wall 20.

The walls 20 can be assembled between the plates 16 in any suitable way, as by forming lugs 22 at the upper and lower corners of said walls and permanently securing the lower pair, for example, to one plate- 16 by spot welding, and detachably securing the upper pair of lugs to another plate 16 by bolts or screws.

The plates 16 are preferably vertically alined by means of a central sheet metal tube or sleeve 23 which extends vertically through and fits in holes 24 in the respective plates 16,-

and is provided with tongues 25 at itsopposite ends which are bent over the outer faces of the upper and lower plates 16 after these parts are assembled.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 5 the lowest plate 16 rests on a supporting member 26 which is preferably in the form of a casting. Said member 26 is provided with an annular horizontal part 27 engaging said plate 16 and from the periphery of which depends afiange havinga continuous lateral web or race 28. This web rests on a series of rollers 29 mounted on horizontal, radial bearing pins 30 journalled in spaced relation in the annular side wall or. skirt of the base member 10.

The member 26 is further provided with a central depending and inwardly tapering or funnel-like part 31 having therewithin a transverse spider 32. A vertical tie rod or securing member 33 having its upper end rigidly secured in a depending central boss on the top or cap 13 extends downwardly through the tube 23 and passes through a central hole 34 in said spider 32, and a wing nut 35, by engaging the underside of said spider, serves to draw the annular edge of said top against the topmost plate 16.

Thus the superposed tiers 11, the top 13, and supporting member 26 are clamped firmly together as a unit which can be turned freely on the rollers 29 of said base 10. In order to maintain theweb 28 in operative relation to saidrollers 29 and prevent the removal of the unit from the base 10, the upper edge of the annular side wall of said base is turned inwardly over the web 28 to form a retaining flange 36. Any other construction for pivotally mounting the upper part of the vending machine may be employed, if desired.

The shells or closure members 11 are preferably each made of a single piece of glass or other transparent material and each shell in the particular construction shown is of sub stantially segmental cylindrical form having a vertical arcuate wall 38 connected by upper and lower flat horizontal walls or portions 39 and 40. When in closed or locked position the concavity of each shell faces inwardly towards the corresponding concavity of one of the upright chamber walls 20 and forms therewith a substantially cylindrical closed receptacle. The arcuate walls 38 of the shells are of slightly less radius than the walls 20 so that, when rotated on the pivots 19 to expose or give access to their interiors, the shells can turn within and clear the curved plates 20, see Fig. 8.

The pivots 19 for the shells 11 may be of any suitable form, those shown including the enlargedcylindrical heads or portions of suitable screws or analogous members, the particular form and arrangement of which as regards the upper, lower and intermediate pivotal connections may, by way of example, be as follows: The upper and lower walls 39 and 40 respectively, of each shell 11 is formed with a vertically extending hole 41, in each ofwhich one of the heads or pivots 19 fits.

Each shell is controlled and moved to open position by a clock spring or other analogous member 42 which is at all times under tension such as to turn theshell in the direction of the arrows, 8. However, this action may be prevented by a stop lug 43 on the free end of a holding dog 44 suitably pivoted at 45 on an adjacent plate 16. The dogs 44 are arranged behind or inwardly beyond the plates 20 and that portion of the free end of each dog which carries the lug 43 extends through a hole in the adjacent plate 20 into the chamtop 13.

ber 12 so as to engage the corresponding shell 11.

The dogs 44 can only be actuated to swing about their pivot 45 to free the shells 11 and permit their rotation, by the proper actuation of the individual coin controlled mechanism for the shell which confines the selected article.

The walls 39 and 40 of the shells are formed with outwardly projecting hubs 46 having flat horizontal bearing faces. The face of the upper hub 46 of each shell bears against the under side of the adjacent horizontal plate 16, while the face of the lower hub engages a clamping disc 47 Beneath and engaging each disc 47 is a spacing sleeve or member 48 which bears in turn on a horizontal plate 49 resting on the top face of the adjacent plate 16. Each driving or actuating spring 42 is confined between one of said plates 49 and a second confining plate 50, which in turn is formed with a hole surrounding the spacing sleeve 48, and is confined beneath the disc 47. The inner end of the spring 42 is secured to a lug 51 on the confining plate 49, see Fig. 8, while the outer end thereof is attached to a similar lug 52 on the other confining plate 50. This latter plate is also provided with an upwardly ex tending lug 53 which engages over the edge oi? the adjacent lower wall 40 of the correspcmding shell 11.

In the pivotal connections at the bottom of the shells 11 of the lowest tier 13, the heads 19 forming the pivots bear on the upper faces of the discs 47. A reduced shank portion passing downwardly through the spacing sleeve 48 connects each head with a threaded end 55 which passes through a hole in the adjacent plate 16 and screws into a tapped hole in the part 27 of the casting 26, see Fig. 3. Thus by screwing the pivot screws 19 up tight the discs 47, spacing member 48 and the lower spring confining plates 49 are clamped rigidly against said plate 16.

In the intermediate pivotal connections between adjacent tiers of shells 11., two pivot heads 19, one at each side of a plate 16, are

required for the adjacent vertically alined pairs of shells. For this purpose, see also Fig. 4. one of the heads 19 is carried by a screw 56 which is received in a threaded hole in a bushing or sleeve 57which passes from the opposite direction through a hole in the plate 16 into ahole in the spacing member 48. The bushing 57 carries the other head 19, and when the screw 56 is tightened in said bushing the clamping disc 47, spacing I sleeve 48 and plate 49 are clamped rigidly together between the two heads 19. The pivot heads 19 for the upper ends of the shells in the top tier are carried by screws 58 which pass through the top plate 16 and are secured in threaded holes in the edge portion of the The combined vertical dimension of each actuating spring 42 and its upper confining plate 50 is slightly less than the corresponding measurement of the spacing member 48. Therefore, when a holding dog 44 is released, and its stop lug 43 is moved out of its shell holding position, the spring 42 is free to expand and turn the upper confining plate 50, and with it the corresponding shell 11 about its pivot 19 to open position through the lug 53 as shown at the bottom of Fig. 8, and in broken lines in Fig. 3.

The shell is arrested and held in this position by suitable stops, such as the fixed projections 59 on the outside of said shell which engage an edge of the corresponding upright plate 20 or other stationary part of the apparatus. These projections 59, when the shells are in closed position, engage the opposite edges of the plates 20 and cooperate with the stop lugs 43 in holding theshells 11 against rotation in either direction.

The individual coin controlled mechanism for maintaining the holding dogs 44 in looking position and tor releasingsaid dogs to permit the rotation of the shells to open position upon the introduction of the proper coins can be of any suitable construction, and only sufficient illustration and description of the mechanism used is given as will enable its operation in connection with the apparatus described to be understood.

The coin mechanisms in each tier 13 are disposed alternately with the chambers 12, each mechanism designated generally G, being mounted on a radially disposed vertical late 60 detachably secured at its top and ottom edges to two of the horizontal plates 16. Each mechanism C includes a horizontally, radially, reciprocable coin receiving plunger 61 formed of a pair of spaced plates. The front end of the plunger extends outwardly in a position in which a coin may be inserted into a slot 62 extending vertically therethrough. The plunger is guided in a rectangular guide sleeve 63, the front end of which extends beneath the slot 62 and supports the coin c, with a portion of the latter extending above the top edge of the plunger 61. A spring pressed latch 64 which is pivoted at its outer end for vertical movement on the plate 60 above the guide sleeve 63 has a cam 65 adjacent its pivot which extends into said guide sleeve. A lug 66 on the free inner end of said latch also extends into the guide sleeve 63 and normally prevents complete inward movement of the plunger 61 by intercepting the same.

Upon inward movement of said plunger with a proper coin c therein however, the top projecting portion of the latter will engage the cam. 65 and lift the latch 64, thus removing the log 66 from the path of the plunger. The plunger is now free to be moved to its full inner position. During its inward movement the coin slot 62 of said plunger will-register with a discharge slot 67 in the bottom of the guide sleeve 63, thereby allowing the coin to drop edgewise upon an inclined bottom wall 68 of a coin passage 70 formed. in a vertically disposed dog 71 pivoted at 7 2 on the plate 60. The coin however will still extend, partly into the slot 67, but by the continued inward movement of the plunger, a fixed abutment thereon will force the coin completely through said slot 67 causing the coin to be forced between the bottom face of the guide 63 and the bottom wall 68, thus swinging the dog 71 downwardly about its pivot 72. This dog is provided at its free end with a depending tail-piece 73, which is normally disposed in the path of and is engaged by a lug 7% on the holding dog n, which is thus prevented from moving to its shell releasing position. lVh-en however, the dog 71 is actuated as described, the tailpiece 73 moves downwardly through a hole in the adjacent plate 16 and a slot 75 in said dog moves into line with the lug 7 4 of the holding dog, which by reason of the force exerted by the coil spring 42 for the adjacent shell 11 permits said shell to swing about its pivot 19 and in turn move said dog inwardly, its lug 7 l passing through said slot 75, see Figs. 5 and 8. The dog 71 is also provided with an upwardly extending arm 77 which when the dog is actuated, swings into the path of a stop 78 on the plunger 61 and prevents the latter from being moved outwardly to a position in which its coin slot 62 is exposed. This dog is frictionally held in either position until reset by the person in charge.

When the dog 71 is moved downwardly by the coin as described, the latter rolls through the passage 7 2 and passes into a vertical coin chute 80, from the lower end of which it drops through open end 81 of the member 26 and is received in a drawer -or receptacle 81 in the bottom of the apparatus. The coin chutes are of rectangular tubular cross section and extend from the top plate 16 to the lower plate 16, being detachably secured to and held in place on these members by suitable ofiset tongues 82 on said chute, see Fig. 6. The chutes 80 are radially disposed and are received in notches 83 formed at proper intervals around the edges of the holes 2 1 of the plates 16. The tubes thus serve to aline all of said plates so that the pivots 19 will register with the shells 11. r

The several coin mechanisms G are concealed by vertical cover plates 84:, the side edges of which engage and extend between the edges 21 of the vertical compartment plates 20.- These plates preferably extend vertically across all of the tiers 12, their lower edges being received in seats 85 in the top face of the member 26, while their upper edges extend within an annular recess or shouldered part 86 of the top 13. An offset tongue. 87 adjacent the upper edge of each plate 84 is received in a complementary slit 88 in the upper plate 16, thereby enabling the plates 8 1 to be assembled and secured in place before the top 13 is attached.

The lower portion of the base 10 is closed and the coin drawer 81 supported by a horizontal plate 89 secured to the base by screws or other fastenings 90. The drawer is slidably supported-on the plate 89 by guides 91 and is provided with a suitable lock 92, the bolt of which engages the upper edge of an opening in the side wall of said base.

The interior of the lower portion of the apparatus can be closed against access by unauthorized persons by fastening the base in any suitable way to the support on which it rests.

The vending apparatus described is of compact form, and of relatively large capacity for the space occupied thereby.

The provision of the separable superimposed tiers of compartments and coin controlled mechanisms enables an apparatus of any desired capacity to be built up of standard units, the central sleeves and the coin chutes and the tie rod only requiring change as to the length.

Moreover as the pivotal mountings for the closure members or shells are removable, any shell can be disconnected from the apparatus and replaced.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a vending apparatus, the combination of a plurality of horizontal spaced separating plates, a group of dispensing compartments disposed between said plates, a rotatable closure member for each compartment, and pivotal mountings for said closure members each having an enlargement seated in an aperture in one of said members and having a threaded part engaging in one of said separating plates, and which is removable through said aperture to permit any one or more of said closure members to be disconnected without disturbing the other parts of said apparatus.

2. In a vending apparatus, a dispensing compartment comprising a stationary, segmental, upright wall with its concavity facing outwardly, a closure member for said compartment and which comprises a hollow shell having an upright arcuate wall provided with a lateral opening, and top and bottom transverse walls, the latter forming a rest for an article, pivots extending into seats in said top and bottom walls on which said shell can turn from a. compartment closing positon with said lateral opening facing said stationary upright wall, to a position in which said opening faces outwardly to permit the removal of said article, and stationarv parts to which said pivots are secured.

3. In a vending apparatus, a dispensing, compartment comprising a pair of spaced horizontal plates, a pivot on each of said plates, each of which has its axis vertically alined with that of the other, said dispensing compartment including a stationary, upright, segmental wall extending between said plates with its concavity facing outwardly and concentric with the axis of said pivots, and a closure member rotatably mounted on said pivots and which comprises a shell having an upright arcuate wall concentric with said pivots and formed with a lateral opening, said shell being normally in compartment closing position with said opening facing inwardly, said shell wall being of less diameter than said stationary wall, top and bottom transverse walls connecting with said arcuate shell wall, and said bottom wall forming a rest for an article, said shell being shittable on said pivots from said. compartment closing position to an open position with its arcuate wall adj cent and within said stationary wall and with said lateral opening facing outwardly whereby said article is accessible.

4. In a vending apparatus, a dispensing compartment comprising a pair of spaced horizontal plates, a pivot on each of said plates each of which has its axis vertically alined with that of the other, a dispensing compartment including a stationary, upright, segmental wall extending between said plates with its concavity facing outwardly and concentric with the axis of said pivots, and a closure member rotatably mounted on said pivots and which comprises a shell having an upright arcuate wall concentric with said pivots and formed with a lateral opening, said shell being normally in compartment closing position with said opening facing inwardly, movable means for releasably holding said shell in closed position, resilient driving means for rotating said shell in a given direction to open position, a stop on said shell which engages a stationary part and cooperates with said holding means ior preventing rotation of said shell in either direction when in closed position, means for releasing said shell so that it can turn on said pivots to open position and said stop being engageable with another fixed part to arrest said shell in open position.

5. In a vending apparatus, the combination of a plurality of horizontal spaced separating plates, a group of alternating individual dispensing compartments and an individually controlled mechanism for each compartment disposed between said plates, a rotatable closure member for each compartment each adapted to be actuated by one of said mechanisms, pivotal mountings for said closure members carried by said separating plates and disposed in vertical alinement, said dispensing compartments and said mechanisms 111 the several groups being in vertlcal aline- Inent, said separating plates each having a notch disposed in vertical registration with the notches of the other plates, and a vertically extending member fitting in said series of notches in said plates, whereby the pivotal mountings for the several closure members of each vertical series of compartments are maintained in their vertical alinement.

6. A vending apparatus composed of separate, superimposed tiers alternating with horizontal separating plates, each tier comprising a group of individual laterally opening dispensing compartments arranged side by side and engaging said plates, a cap resting on the topmost tier, a bottom member on which the lowermost tier rests, a pivot extending from said cap into each compartment of said topmost tier, a pivot extending from said bottom member into each of the compartments of said lowermost tier, rotatable closure members for said compartments mounted on said pivots, and tie means connecting said cap and said bottom member for holding these parts in engagement with the top and bottom tiers for clamping the tiers together.

7. A vending apparatus composed of separate, superimposed'tiers alternating with horizontal separating plates, each tier comprising a group of individual laterally opening dispensing compartments arranged side by side and engaging said plates, a cap resting on the topmost tier, a bottom member on which the lowermost tier rests, a pivot extending from said cap into each compartment of said topmost tier, a pivot extending from said bottom member into each of the compartments of said lowermost tier, pivots also extending into and between the compartments of adjacent intermediate tiers, ro tatable closure members for said compartments mounted on said pivots, means extending from said cap to said bottom member for alining said tiers, and a tie member connecting said cap and said bottom member for holding these parts in engagement with the top bottom tiers for clamping all the tiers together.

DONALD G. DAVIS. 

